UIPM 2018 Tetrathlon U19 World Championships: Gold and world record for Rinaudo (ITA)

Alice Rinaudo of Italy had two reasons to smile after being crowned as world U19 champion and new U19 world record-holder in Fencing at the UIPM 2018 Under 19 Tetrathlon World Championships.

Rinaudo (ITA) dominated the Women’s Individual Final after an incredible performance in the Fencing Ranking Round, with large crowds clamouring to see the action. She won 33 of her bouts with only 2 defeats, enabling her to embark on the Laser-Run with a massive 45sec lead.

With six coveted places at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games at stake today, it was a real statement of intent from the Italian teenager with Buenos Aires just six months away.

The real story of the Laser-Run was the battle for silver, ultimately won by Rinaudo’s team-mate Maria Lea Lopez (ITA) with Gu Yewen of China picking up bronze.

Egypt claimed 4th and 6th places thanks to Salma Abdelmaksoud and Amira Kandil respectively, with Argentina starlet Martina Armanazqui of Argentina finishing 5th. Italy won team gold ahead of Egypt (silver) and China (bronze).

“It was a fantastic day, the whole day,” said new champion Rinaudo (ITA). “I’m so satisfied and this was my last opportunity because it’s my last year at U19 level. It’s such a fantastic result.

“I had a problem with my second shoot, which was not really good, and I said in my mind to remain concentrating and this was the result.

“I want to go to the Youth Olympic Games. It is my dream.”

FENCING

Rinaudo (ITA) was by a distance the best performer in the Ranking Round, with an astonishing score of 33V/2D.

Nobody could stay in touch with the leader but Armanazqui (ARG) created some space ahead of the pack with 26V/9D, with Lopez (ITA) and Gu (CHN) two victories behind on 24V/11D.

In the Bonus Round, Rinaudo (ITA) and Gu (CHN) each added two points to their scores.

SWIMMING

Quickest in the pool was Michelle Gulyas of Hungary with a time of 2:08.92, ahead of Abigail Edison of Canada (2:10.02 and Yuan Xin (CHN, 2:10.93).

LASER-RUN

Rinaudo (ITA) showed no sign of nerves as she emerged from the first visit to the shooting range with no alarm. Meanwhile Abdelmaksoud (EGY) moved from 6th to 3rd.

On the second run/shoot, the leading Africans started to put some serious pressure on the leader with Marian Amer (EGY) moving up to 2nd with Abdelmaksoud (EGY) in 3rd. Rinaudo (ITA) seemed to feel some tension, losing 20sec while on the covered range.

Again the equation changed on the 3rd lap, with Armanazqui (ARG) returning to her starting position of 2nd and Gu (CHN) moving up to 4th.

The 4th and final shoot created another twist, as Lopez (ITA) leapfrogged the chasing pack with a terrific shoot to move into the silver-medal position. And she followed her compatriot home for an Italian 1-2, with Gu (CHN) holding off the Egyptian challenge to join them on the podium.

“We witnessed a great competition today, and the two days before as well with some great semi-finals,” said Viacheslav Malishev, UIPM Executive Board Member for Development.

“It’s the biggest U19 World Championship in UIPM history and you can see the great preparation by athletes from 35 countries from around the globe, and we saw a very interesting Laser-Run with lots of supporters following their teams. It’s wonderful to see three countries from three different continents on the podium in the team event.

“The message is clear: Modern Pentathlon is a global sport around the world, both genders are represented very strongly and I cannot recall when there were more girls than boys at a competition. It’s a great step in Modern Pentathlon development and a great message to the Olympic society.”

Pedro Raposo, Councillor for Sport at Caldas da Rainha City Hall, said: “For Caldas this is an important event because it’s part of a global strategy in Portugal to develop tourism and sport.

“New events such as the UIPM U19 Tetrathlon World Championships bring new concepts and new technologies to our city, and I am very pleased for all the athletes who are taking part.”

The biggest-ever gathering of teenage pentathletes has assembled for the UIPM 2018 Under 19 Tetrathlon World Championships, with more than 220 athletes registered to take part across seven days of competition.

The action continues tomorrow (April 11) with the Men’s Individual Final, with another six YOG 2018 places at stake. For results visit the UIPM website.

The 12 new qualifiers for Buenos Aires 2018 will be confirmed in due course, taking the line-up for the Games closer to completion with nine women’s and nine men’s places already secured at the continental qualifying events.